Craven County, South Carolina
Encyclopedia
Craven County, South Carolina was one of the three original counties
established by the Lords Proprietor
of the English colony of Carolana
in 1682 to include the colony's lands stretching from Awendaw Creek north to the western shore of Winyah Bay
and inland. In 1685, the original county of Berkeley
was expanded to include the southwestern part of Craven County, and in 1691, land was added to Craven County from the previously unorganized land to its northeast.
In 1706, the Lords Proprietor established the Church of England
Parish system in South Carolina, reducing counties to geographic designations with no administrative functions; the southwestern half of Craven County was organized into St. James Santee ParishAnne Baker, Leland Bridges, and Roy Williams III: St. James Santee, Plantation Parish, History and Records, 1685-1925, Spartanburg, S.C.: The Reprint Company, Publishers, 1997., and in 1721, Prince George Parish was organized for the former northeastern half of Craven County, extending into the unorganized territory to the north and east of the county.
In 1769, Judicial Districts incorporating the parishes were established in the colony; St. James Santee Parish was taken into Charlestown District, and Prince George Parish into Georgetown District.
In 1785, the new State of South Carolina established counties within the Judicial Districts, with Washington and Marion counties taking in St. James Santee Parish of Charleston District, and Williamsburg and Winyaw (later spelled Winyah) counties taking in Prince George Parish of Georgetown District. These counties did not immediately become functional, and the judicial districts retained their administrative functions.
The 1868 South Carolina State Constitution gave the state Districts the uniform designation of County, by which they are still known. In 1882, a new Berkeley County was formed from upland Charleston County, taking in land formerly in Marion and Washington counties; Charleston County
retained the coastal lands originally included in Craven County. In 1893, Charleston County expanded northwestward into Berkeley County. The original Craven County's lands now lie in parts of Berkeley
, Charleston
, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties.
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
established by the Lords Proprietor
Lords Proprietor
Lords Proprietor was the name for the chief or highest owners or proprietors of certain English proprietary colonies in America, such as Carolina, New Jersey and Barbados....
of the English colony of Carolana
Carolana
Carolana was a colony projected by Daniel Coxe, an English physician and land speculator, who by 1698 had acquired title to the Sir Robert Heath grant of 1629, under which he claimed the region in the rear of the Carolina settlements and including the lower Mississippi Valley...
in 1682 to include the colony's lands stretching from Awendaw Creek north to the western shore of Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River and the Sampit River in Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina...
and inland. In 1685, the original county of Berkeley
Berkeley County, South Carolina
Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,651. The 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 151,673. Its county seat is Moncks Corner....
was expanded to include the southwestern part of Craven County, and in 1691, land was added to Craven County from the previously unorganized land to its northeast.
In 1706, the Lords Proprietor established the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
Parish system in South Carolina, reducing counties to geographic designations with no administrative functions; the southwestern half of Craven County was organized into St. James Santee ParishAnne Baker, Leland Bridges, and Roy Williams III: St. James Santee, Plantation Parish, History and Records, 1685-1925, Spartanburg, S.C.: The Reprint Company, Publishers, 1997., and in 1721, Prince George Parish was organized for the former northeastern half of Craven County, extending into the unorganized territory to the north and east of the county.
In 1769, Judicial Districts incorporating the parishes were established in the colony; St. James Santee Parish was taken into Charlestown District, and Prince George Parish into Georgetown District.
In 1785, the new State of South Carolina established counties within the Judicial Districts, with Washington and Marion counties taking in St. James Santee Parish of Charleston District, and Williamsburg and Winyaw (later spelled Winyah) counties taking in Prince George Parish of Georgetown District. These counties did not immediately become functional, and the judicial districts retained their administrative functions.
The 1868 South Carolina State Constitution gave the state Districts the uniform designation of County, by which they are still known. In 1882, a new Berkeley County was formed from upland Charleston County, taking in land formerly in Marion and Washington counties; Charleston County
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
retained the coastal lands originally included in Craven County. In 1893, Charleston County expanded northwestward into Berkeley County. The original Craven County's lands now lie in parts of Berkeley
Berkeley County, South Carolina
Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 142,651. The 2005 Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 151,673. Its county seat is Moncks Corner....
, Charleston
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties.